....Outside of the house is finished...and, now, so is the inside...I am content.  And, I sincerely thank God that I was actually able to do this and finish...it meant so much to me, to see all of that added color and spend some time "alone" (sort of), absorbed in something that I didn't have to feel un-confident about doing...Mom was very happy w/the results & no one else set the decorations on fire, out of protest...so, this quasi-christo-pagan did ok, I guess...now, for the rest of the downhill "gotta wrap and mail a pkg." rush...ooh, icky...:>(  Lots of musical videos will be playing far into the night...2 years ago, I played Led Zep and Def Leppard far into the wee hours...you'd be surprised how much positive energy a great guitar rift can offer one, when caffeine is no longer doing the job...to me, that is a true godsend:  happiness and energy...that's when I think to myself, "What a great planet we live on!"  At my age, I don't get to think about things like that, as much as I'd like to, anymore...Still feeling very sore-headed and confused about my work situation, but after last night's rant, I sadly see that there is nothing that I can truly do about any of it...yet...I was born on a Thursday..."Thursday's child has far to go..."...yep, story of my life, so far (sigh)...guess I'll either get more stupid about it all, or just chuck it, one day, and "go hermit"...Last night around 3:30 A.M. our time, I was trying to watch the last of "Captain Blood" on TCM; however--even after two fresh-air outings--my cat decided that bouncing up and down on my bladder and yowling because she was "bored" was a constructive thing to be doing...More than "Robin Hood," or "Dawn Patrol," I absolutely loved Errol Flynn in "Captain Blood" and "The Sea Eagle" (the latter w/Vivien Leigh)...think that's where I truly got my love for pirates from...and, as much as I admire Johnny Dep for playing Jack Sparrow (or, for playing anything, really), Errol really had the sword/fencing work down pat...the way he and Basil Rathbone used to duel it out...like, Ali and Spinks, to a classic boxing fan...  What a joy to watch...And, that's when it hit me, once again:  imagination...it's one of the greatest gifts given to humankind, and the best weapon against grim reality's everyday bite...If I didn't have any escapes, I'd be a goner..that's what's wrong w/my folks...as they get older and older and more "stuck together," the pond dries up and there are less and less options open to them, to just "hope"...No wonder I'm frustated...how can I help them?  How can I help these disparagingly different people that I love?  Prayer on my own is an answer, but it's my answer and it's not enough...I FEEL that w/in my gut...so what else should I be doing to make a real difference that sticks?'Cause, Time's awasting...no one, here, is getting any younger, any more well, any less weary...That's what I'd love for Christmas...a viable solution...Time to go out, now, w/the cat and meditate around the lights...anyone else out there, looking for answers?  Well, I hope that you find yours...even if it's before I find my own...'cause that way, we cut down on the Entropy of Unhappiness...even just a little bit...